🏛️ Government & Politics
- Former cabinet minister says Premier Smith can’t survive UCP crisis after referendum. Peter Guthrie, ousted from the UCP caucus and now leader of the Progressive Tory Party, told reporters the Oct. 19 referendum outcome—about 75 per cent voting to stay in Canada—has left Premier Danielle Smith politically isolated; Smith’s office called Guthrie "out of touch," and the premier warned UCP candidates must accept a pro-Canada stance.
- Northern Alberta shows higher support for separation, especially in rural areas. Voting patterns reported after the provincewide referendum show substantially greater pro-separation support in northern and rural Alberta compared with urban centres; the data were analysed and released as officials continue counting and validating referendum results across the province.
- Officials to update the public on the CFB Wainwright fire that killed four soldiers. Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland said the grass fire on Saturday sent 39 wounded to hospital (now 27), with 13 listed as critical; the blaze killed four members and base activities are beginning to return to normal, officials said, and a community vigil of roughly 150 people was held in nearby Wainwright.
- Nurse testifies to crowded, chaotic Edmonton ER at fatality inquiry. At a continuing fatality inquiry into the 2018 death of an Edmonton man, a nurse described overcrowding and chaotic conditions in the emergency department during the patient’s care, testimony that contributes to the inquiry’s examination of hospital responses and timelines.
🎨 Community & Culture
- First Nations artists withdraw work from University of Calgary event on residential schools. Several Indigenous artists removed art from a University of Calgary exhibition after the event invited public debate on residential schools, citing objections to the format and prompting the university to review the program’s approach.
- World juniors pre-tournament schedule sets 12 games across six Alberta towns Dec.17–23. Cold Lake, Blackfalds, Red Deer, Camrose, Lloydminster and Edmonton will host pre-tournament games; Canada plays Finland (Dec. 18) and Sweden (Dec. 20) in Red Deer, and wraps pre-tournament vs. Sweden at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Dec. 22.
- Northern Alberta students walked out to protest a teacher’s post about residential schools. Scores of students staged walkouts after a teacher’s social-media post on residential schools prompted protests at northern Alberta schools, according to local reports.
🏈 Sports
- B.C. Lions can end Winnipeg’s season and hand Calgary Stampeders a playoff spot. The Lions (10-7) will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-9) on Friday; a Lions win would eliminate Winnipeg and put the idle Calgary Stampeders (9-9) into the CFL playoffs, coach Buck Pierce and players said.
- Edmonton activates Ryan Nugent-Hopkins off injured reserve before Hurricanes game. Nugent-Hopkins, in his 16th NHL season, was cleared to play after a lower-body practice injury and entered the game with 804 career points over 1,031 regular-season games with Edmonton.
- Alberta to host world junior championship games Dec.26–Jan.5, 2027, with Edmonton and Red Deer as hubs. The full world junior tournament runs Dec. 26–Jan. 5, 2027, with Edmonton and Red Deer hosting all championship games; Canada earned bronze at the previous world juniors.
📰 Also Today
- Alberta referendum count still not complete, results to be delayed.
- Permanent daylight time means later starts at Bow Valley ski hills, local schedules to change.
- MPs propose restricting gambling ads in Canada, citing mounting harms.
- Wainwright vigil described fallen soldiers as "courageous", community held tribute services.
- Edmonton video-game studio BioWare to shut down after more than 30 years, company announced closure.
- Party leaders in one riding publicly backed Danielle Smith, local candidates showed united support.
- City looks to give animal bylaw more teeth, proposed bylaw changes under consideration.
- Wainwright prayer vigil drew about 150 people, names of four soldiers were read aloud.
- First Nations artists pulled art from University of Calgary, artists objected to event format.
- Wainwright vigil paid tribute to the fallen and injured, services involved seven area churches.
